  We propose a method for combining QCD matrix elements and parton showers in
Monte Carlo simulations of hadronic final states in $e^+e^-$ annihilation. The
matrix element and parton shower domains are separated at some value $y_{ini}$
of the jet resolution, defined according to the $k_T$-clustering algorithm. The
matrix elements are modified by Sudakov form factors and the parton showers are
subjected to a veto procedure to cancel dependence on $y_{ini}$ to
next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy. The method provides a leading-order
description of hard multi-jet configurations together with jet fragmentation,
while avoiding the most serious problems of double counting. We present first
results of an approximate implementation using the event generator APACIC++.
