1st LD Writethru: Bank of Japan keeps interest rates unchanged at 0.25 pct

TOKYO, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Bank of Japan (BOJ) on Thursday decided to leave interest rates unchanged, maintaining its accommodative monetary policy.

The central bank kept its key short-term rate on hold at around 0.25 percent at the end of a two-day policy meeting, in a move widely expected by the market.

Eight of the nine BOJ Policy Board members voted in support of Thursday's decision, marking the t