base_url() function to load css doesn't work

[eluser]mazzy[/eluser]
I created a controller for a login page.if the login operation will go well, it will pass to index view.

Code:

if($this->form_validation->run() == FALSE)
        {
            $data['title'] = "User Access";
            $this->load->view('_login', $data);
        }
        else
        {  
            $data['title'] = " ";
            $this->load->view('/templates/index',$data);            
        }

My first question is: Why if I show the index page on the browser the url is always etc/login instead of etc/index. How can I change it?

In the index page I would load a css style but unfortunately it doens't load even if I set to autoload url helper.

Code:

<link rel="stylesheet" href="<?php echo base_url(); ?>assets/css/style.css" type="text/css" />

my assets folder is in the main folder of my web app.

Code:

-Project
--application
--assets
--system
--user_guide

and

Code:

base_url()

points to Project folder. Why doesn't load correctly css style?