Melbourne computer hacker turned whistleblower extraordinaire Julian Assange is under pressure from within WikiLeaks to step down from the helm of the site he created.

Moves are already afoot to oust Assange if he chooses not to step down voluntarily.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Credit:Reuters

After Swedish prosecutors reopened a rape investigation into Assange, 39, the stench has become all too much for several WikiLeaks organisers, including Birgitta Jonsdottir.

Jonsdottir is also a parliamentarian in Iceland, where WikiLeaks is based due to the strong whistleblower protection laws in that country.