BERLIN, Dec. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- The European Central Bank (ECB) raised its key interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to2.25 percent on Thursday, which was its first rate increase since 2000.

    The move was widely expected as ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet said last month that the bank was prepared to "moderately augment" rates to head off inflation in the euro zone. Enditem