WORLDCOM GETS OK FOR MCI TAKEOVER

WorldCom's takeover of MCI Communications Corp. won conditional approval from antitrust authorities Wednesday, clearing a major regulatory hurdle to the deal valued at $37 billion.The Justice Department -- like European antitrust regulators last week -- cleared what would be one of the nation's biggest mergers on the condition MCI sell all of its Internet business.

The merger now must win approval from the Federal Communications Commission -- the last regulatory hurdle. The FCC is expected to act next month.