WASHINGTON, USA (AP) - Congress took a step towards renewing the stalled Patriot Act, reaching a deal between the White House and dissident Senate Republicans who wanted greater assurances that the post-Sept 11 anti-terror legislation would not undermine personal liberties.

Republican Sen John Sununu, a leader in the talks with the White House, said no one disputes the importance of subpoena powers and other tools the government needs to thwart terrorist activities. "But we want to make sure they are balanced by basic protections for civil liberties."

Renewal of 16 provisions of the 2001 Patriot Act was held up late last year when Sununu and three other Republicans joined almost every Democrat in stalling the legislation.With the agreement, supporters were close to the 60 votes needed to overcome another attempt to block it, and it appeared that Democrats would not stand in the way of legislation that provides the government critical legal and investigative powers in the fight against terrorism.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the agreement would "continue to build upon the civil liberties protections that are in place but do so in a way that doesn't compromise our national security priorities."

The changes, worked out over several weeks of talks, specifically with the office of White House counsel Harriet Miers, covered three main areas:

-Under the first, recipients of court-approved subpoenas for information in terrorist investigations would have the right to challenge a requirement that they refrain from telling anyone.

-The second removes a requirement that an individual provide the FBI with the name of an attorney consulted after receiving a demand for records from investigators.

-The third clarifies that most libraries are not subject to demands for information about suspected terrorists.

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