hello and welcome to the cnn newsroom. the news unfolds live this saturday, march 10th. a top world diplomat asks syria s president face-to-face to stop the carnage and killing in his country. former u.n. secretary-general kofi annan is in damascus meeting syrian president assad, opposition activists say 30 people were killed in fighting across syria. nick robertson joins me live in a few minutes to talk about any progress the two men may have made. israel launched air strikes against suspected militants in gaza again today. it is the second day in a row. at least 15 palestinians are reported killed, more than 20 others injured. a palestinian authority spokesman blames israel for ramping up violence in the region. israel says the air strikes targeted terrorists who attacked civilian communities near gaza. in washington state, a search is under way for a suspect who allegedly shot a female deputy and stabbed a judge before fleeing. the incident began yesterday afternoon