BAGHDAD, April 2 (Xinhuanet) -- Insurgents detonated two car bombs and launched mortars at a US military forward base west of Baghdad on Saturday, wounding at least 18 US soldiers, the US military said.

    Twelve detainees were also wounded in the attack, which was targeting the Abu Ghuraib detention center taken by the US-led multinational forces as a forward operation base, the military said in a statement.

    The apparently well-organized assault was mounted by 40-60insurgents at about 7:00 p.m. (0300 GMT). Two car bombs were first detonated, followed by rocket-propelled grenades, mortar rounds and small arms fire, said the statement.

    The assault was repelled and the prison "was secured and locked down", said the military, without giving further details. Insurgents have previously shelled the prison, center of the scandal of abuse of prisoners by US captors. The notorious detention center, 20 km west of Baghdad, holds currently more than3000 detainees. Enditem