itemize-environment and indention

[Katrin Pietzsch]

Hi list,

in one chapter I only want to use the itemize-environment in 
combination with some explanatory tables and figures. By default this 
environtment offsets everything from the left pagemargin. How can I 
prevent this, 'cause I want the labels to be aligned with figures and 
tabels that start at the left page margin? I tried to add

\setlength{\leftmargin}{0pt}

to the preamble, but this was of no use, 'cause all the items were 
still indented.

Another thing I'd like to do is the following:

- first item on level #1
	- level #2
	- level #2
   the level#1 text should continue here and thus still be part of the 
first item.

- second item on level#1

Any ideas on this?

Thanks in advance,
Katrin