GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton says he expects people to lose their lives over this week's massive leak of diplomatic documents.

Clinton said Tuesday night that he'd be surprised if people don't lose lives and wondered how many will lose their careers. His wife, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has argued that the website WikiLeaks acted illegally in posting the sensitive files.

Bill Clinton says its clear that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is trying to evade the reach of American law because he knows that what he did was criminal, but he says that doesn't mean Assange has succeeded. Interpol has put Assange on its most-wanted list for a separate matter.

Clinton spoke as part of a lecture series hosted by Guilford College.