OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) -- Burkina Faso's incumbent president won a sweeping electoral victory,

extending his mandate by another seven years, Burkina Faso's elections commission said Thursday.

Blaise Compaore received 88 percent of the vote in last weekend's election, while the next closest candidate, Green

Party contender Ram Ouedraogo, got only 7 percent. The remaining 5 percent of the votes went to a third candidate

or were spoiled ballots.

The victory, however, came against little real competition. Most opposition candidates had opted to boycott the vote

and the two candidates who did run were seen as Compaore supporters.

For Burkina Faso, however, the peaceful election was a victory for democracy, Compaore insisted.

``I would like to pay homage to the political action of our people, who by mobilizing for this election have

strengthened the state and the rule of law,'' Compaore said.

About 56 percent of eligible voters cast ballots Sunday, up by more than 30 percent from the last presidential election

in 1991.

Opposition leaders had been campaigning for a widespread boycott of the election, saying it was flawed and that

Compaore had manipulated the registration process in his favor.

Independent election monitors from the European Union and Burkina Faso earlier this week declared the election free

and open.

AP-NY-11-19-98 1210EST