forms have no input boxes

[eluser]wesleychristelis[/eluser]
i have the following basic piece of code

<?= form_open()?>
<?=form_open()?>

<?=isset($message) ? $message : ''?>

<p>
Username: &lt;?=form_input('username', set_value('username'))?&gt;
</p>
<p>
Password: &lt;?=form_password('password')?&gt;
</p>
&lt;?=form_submit('submit', 'Login')?&gt;
&lt;?=form_close()?&gt;

when viewing it in the browser i only see the following (see screen shot ) I have no input boxes... not sure what is wrong .

the titles i.e. username ad password show . but the input boxes next to them dont , i have tried firefox , chrome, safari... no luck .

what am i missing

CI 2.1.2