An optimum combiner that reduces the amount of interference imposed upon a first base station (102) by transmissions of other base stations within the same communication system. Two antennas (112, 114) are used to receive transmissions within a receiving station (110). A rake receiver is coupled to each antenna (112, 114). By optimally combining the signals that are received by each independent finger of the rake receiver, interference that is correlated between a finger associated with the first antenna (112) and a finger associated with the second antenna (114) can be minimized with respect to the desired signal. Optimum combining requires determination of optimum combining coefficients. A max-ratio combining algorithm may be substituted for the optimal combining algorithm depending upon interference characteristics.