A?security guard for Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian shot himself to death at Chen's residence earlier today, Xinhua news agency reported.

The 27-year-old captain Lu Tseng-hsiang put his gun to his temple and pulled the trigger when he was on duty in the guard booth around 8:30?AM today, the report said.

He was sent to a hospital but soon declared dead, the report added.

Lu, who has been in service at Chen's residence since he joined the army, was said to have committed the suicide because of some "love affairs," the report cited Taiwan authorities as saying.

(Shanghai Daily October 26, 2007)