SAN SALVADOR, Aug 7 (Reuters) - El Salvador, the only Latin American country with troops in Iraq, is cutting its small contingent there to just 280 soldiers amid growing opposition at home to the U.S.-led Iraq war.

Since the start of the conflict in 2003, El Salvador has sent contingents of 380 soldiers on six-month stints.

But President Tony Saca said on Tuesday his government would deploy 280 soldiers in the next contingent, which flies out this week to help build schools, clinics, orphanages and roads.

Saca, who is one of U.S. President George W. Bush's closest allies in Latin America and paid a surprise visit to Iraq in May, said he would reduce the troop presence even further "as the situation in Iraq improves."

Recent polls have shown that more than 50 percent of Salvadorans are against sending troops to Iraq. Five of the country's soldiers have been killed in the conflict.

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